Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-05-22

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GFRANK, THOU SHALT DIE IN BLOOD"
Muller turned livid with fear, and the
cold perspiration streamed from his face.
He was IA bold nan enough in a general
way, but this was too much for his nerves.
at is my mothers voice, it is her very
words ~ he called ont aloud, and then,
dashing his spurs into his horses TANKS,
he went like a flash away from the ac-
cursed spot; nor did he draw rein till he
came to his own place, ten miles
away. Twice the horse fell in the
darkness, for there was no moon, the
second time throwing him heavily, but he
only dragged it up with q curse, and,
springing into the saddle again, fled on as
before.
Thus did the man who did not hesitate
to plot and to execute the cruel slaughter
of unolfending men cover beneath the
fancied echo Of n deed wOman's voice!
Truly human nature Is full of cOntradic-
lions.
When the thunder Of the horses hoofs
grew faint jamie emerged from one of his
hiding places, and throwing himself down
in the center of the dusty road, kicked
and rolled with delight, shaking all the
while with an inward joy that his habits
of caution would not permit him to give
audible vent to. "His mothers voice,
his mothers words" he quoted to him
self. How should he know that jamie
remembers the old wOman's voice-ay,
and the words that the devil in her spoke
too? Hee! Hee! Heen
Bessie fled without stopping till she
reached the orange trees in front of the
veranda, where, treasured by the lights
from the windows, she paused to consider.
Not that she was troubled by Jantje's
mysterious bowling; indeed, she was too
preOccuDied to give it q second thought.
What she was debating was whether she
should say anything about her encounter
with Frank Muller. After pausing for Il
few seconds to pick q branch of orange
blossom and to become herself generally,
which, not being Historically inclined, she
very soon did, she quietly entered the
house as though nothing had happened.
The very first person she met was John
himself, who had come in by the back
way. He laughed at her orange blossom
bouquet, and said that il was most ap-
prOpriate, and then proceeded to embrace
her tenderly in the passage; and indeed he
would have been a poor sort of lover if he
had not. 1t was exactly at this %junCture
that old Silas Croft happened to open the
sitting room door and come full upon this
tender and attractive tableau.
"Well, / never" said the old gentleman.
"What is the meaning of all this, Bessie?"
OF course there was nothing for it but to
come in and explain the facts of the case,
which John did with much humming and
having and general awkwardneSs OF man.
ner that battles description, while Bessie
stood by, her hand upon her lovers
shoulder, blushing as led as any rose.
The old man listened in silence till John
had finished-a smile upon his face, and a
kindly twinkle in his keen eyes.
80" no said, that is what You young
people have been after, isit? I suppose that
you want to enlarge your interests in the
farm, eh, John? Well, upon my word, |
don't blame you; you might have gone
farther and Jared worse. These
sort of things never come singly,
it seems. ] had another request for
YOUR hand, my dear only this afternoon
from that scoundrel Frank Muller, of all
men in the world" and his face darkened
as he said the name. 81 sent him off with
a flea in his ear, l can tell you. Had /
known then what I know now | would
have referred him to John. There, there!
IT - IL anl g., In,uara,g man htf
let him be. He is taking plenty Of rope
and he will hang himself one Of these days.
Well, my dears, this is the best bit Of e
that / have heard for many a long day. II
is time you got married, both of you, for it
is not right for man to live alone, or wo-
man either. I have done it all lay life,
and that is the conclusion ] ! have come to
after thinking the matter over somewhere
about fifty years. Yes, y0u have my con-
sent and my blessing, too; and you will
have something more one day before ~
very long. Take her, John, take her. |
have led q rough life, but have seen
something TOR women for all of that, and
tell you that there is not n sweeter or a
better or a prettier woman in South Africa
than Bessie Croft, and in wanting 10 marry
her you have shown your sense. God bless
you both, my dears. And now, Bessie,
come and give your old uncle a kiss. i
hone that you won't let John quite drive
me ont of your head; that's all. For you
see, my dear, having no children of my
own, l nave managed to get very fond OF
YOU in the last twelve years or 10"
Bessie came and kissed the old man ten
derly.
mo, uncle" she said, neither john
nor anybody DOR anything in the world
can do that" aud it was evident from her
manner that she meant what she said.
Bessie had a large heart, and was not stall
the person to let her lover drive her uncle
and benefactOr out Of his share of it.